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El Rey del Pulpo > Octopus Recipes > Around The World > Octopus Bao Bun Recipe
pan bao con relleno de pulpo

Bao buns are soft, a bit sweet, and can be filled with a wide variety of tasty ingredients.

Originally from China, these steamed buns are perfect for filling with exciting blends of flavors. Though the traditional Chinese version of this dish includes pork, today’s pick for our bao bun recipe is a more original combination: octopus and mango sauce.

STEAMED BAO BUNS FILLED WITH OCTOPUS, LAMB’S LETTUCE, AND MANGO SAUCE

  • To share: Serves 4
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Time: 150 min
  • Serve as: Appetizer/Main Course
  • Calories: 195 cal/serving

INGREDIENTS

Ingredients for 8 bao buns:

2 packages precooked el Rey del Pulpo

Lamb’s lettuce

For the dough:

2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup warm water

2 tsp active dry yeast

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tbs sugar

2 tsp salt

2 tbs olive oil

For the mango sauce:

2 ripe mangoes

¼ onion

1 clove garlic

1/2 cup water

Dried chilies, salt, and pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

FOR THE BAO BUNS

¿CÓMO HACER PAN BAO? RECETA TRADICIONAL
  • First, prepare the buns. Mix the yeast in the warm water. Stir in the sugar. Let rest for 15 minutes until the yeast begins to activate (it will start to bubble). Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl. Add in the salt, olive oil, and yeast mixture.
  • Fully combine. Knead the dough briefly and shape into a ball. Let rest 20 minutes.
  • Flour your worktop. Turn out the dough and knead for 5 minutes until the dough is smooth and clump-free. Shape into a ball. Set in a bowl, cover, and rest until double in size (approximately 90 minutes).
  • Punch down the dough. Divide into 8 equal portions and shape into balls. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 10 minutes.
  • Roll out each portion into a 1/3 in-thick oval. Fold the buns with a piece of parchment paper between to keep them from sticking. Set aside while you prepare the filling.

 

PREPARE THE BAO BUNS FILLING

  • To make the mango sauce, mince the onion and garlic and lightly fry for a few minutes. Add in as many dried chilies as you like, to taste, and sauté.
  • Peel and dice the mango. Add to the frying pan with a dash of salt and black pepper and sauté. Pour in the water and let boil for 5 minutes.
  • Tip the mixture into an immersion blender cup or a blender. Blend fully and set aside.
  • Take the octopus out of the packaging and slice the tentacles. Set aside.

 

STEAM THE BUNS

    Heat a pot of water and set a steamer basket on top. Insert two dough ovals, cover, and turn down the heat when the water begins to boil. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes. Remove and let rest another 5 minutes before uncovering to keep the buns from deflating.

ASSEMBLE THE BAO

  • While the buns rest, brown the octopus in a frying pan with olive oil or heat in the microwave on high for 2 minutes.
  • Fill the buns with the el Rey del Pulpo precooked octopus slices.
  • Toss in some lamb’s lettuce and a bit of spicy mango sauce. Bon appetit!
  • Feel free to serve with a lamb’s lettuce salad, mustard, and cherry tomatoes.

 

How to make Bao Buns? Diferents Options

HOW TO MAKE BAO BUNS? TRADITIONAL RECIPE

HOW TO MAKE BAO WITHOUT A STEAMER BASKET

HOW TO MAKE BAO WITH A STAND MIXER

GLUTEN AND LACTOSE FREE BAO BUN RECIPE

1. HOW TO MAKE BAO WITHOUT A STEAMER BASKET

CÓMO HACER PAN BAO SIN VAPORERA

To share : Servers 4      Difficult:  Medium    

  • If you don’t have a steamer basket, don’t go out and buy one! Use this trick to make this bao bun recipe.
  • Place a strainer or wire sieve over a pot of water. Be careful to ensure the buns never touch the water, only the steam. Cover with the lid.
  • It’s as easy as that!

2. HOW TO MAKE BAO WITH A STAND MIXER

HOW TO MAKE BAO WITH A STAND MIXER

To Make: 8 buns with stand mixer    Difficulty: Low           Time: 130 min

Making this bao bun recipe is even easier with a stand mixer. Here’s how.

Ingredients for 8 buns

2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup warm water
2 tsp active dry yeast
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tbs sugar
2 tsp salt
2 tbs olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS

1- Activate the yeast in the mixer bowl by adding the warm water, sugar, and yeast and mixing vigorously with a fork. Let stand for 5 minutes or until it begins to bubble.

2- Add in the flour, baking powder, salt, olive oil, and mix with a dough hook on medium-high for 10 seconds to combine all the ingredients.

3- Knead with the dough hook on low for 10 minutes.

4- Shape the dough into a ball and set in a covered bowl. Let rise for 1 hour. It should double in size.

5- Punch down the dough and divide into 8 equal portions. Shape the portions into balls and let rest for 10 minutes.

6- Roll out each portion into an oval.

7- Fold the ovals with a piece of parchment paper in between the halves to keep them from sticking. Cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and rest another 30 minutes.

8- Pour two cups of water into a pot and set a steamer basket on top. You can also use the steamer basket of your Instant Pot. Place as many buns as comfortably fit in the basket. Cover.

9- Steam on medium for 5 to 8 minutes

3. GLUTEN AND LACTOSE FREE BAO BUN RECIPE

GLUTEN AND LACTOSE FREE BAO BUN RECIPE

To make: Gluten and lactose free      Difficulty: Medium           Time: 150 min

Ingredients for 6 buns

1½ gluten-free flour mix

½ cup cornstarch

2/3 cup warm water

1/3 cup warm lactose-free milk

2 tsp yeast

1 tbs sugar

2 tbs olive oil

½ tsp baking powder

2 tsp salt

 

INSTRUCTIONS

1- Activate the yeast by mixing it into the warm water and sugar. Let sit 10 minutes until bubbling.

2- Combine the flour, cornstarch, oil, and yeast mixture in a bowl.

3- Knead the dough well until smooth and clump free. Shape into a ball and set back in the bowl. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.

4- Divide the dough into 6 portions. Make a ball with each of them. Roll each ball out into an oval. Fold the ovals over a scrap of parchment paper.

5- Let rest 20 minutes and steam.

 

TIPS FOR MAKING AND STORING BAO BUNS

If you’ve got bao buns left over, resteam them for 2 minutes before eating. You can also heat them on a grill or in a frying pan with a bit of oil.

Did you know that bao buns can be frozen? Freeze after steaming, once fully cooled. Eat within 3 months. To defrost, steam for 3 or 4 minutes straight out of the freezer. You can also let them defrost in the fridge and heat in a frying pan.

If you love Asian food as much as we do, you’ve got to try our Japanese gyozas recipe or this delicious dish of stir-fried octopus with noodles. They’re incredible!

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